Reciprocable storage racks

ABSTRACT

A reciprocable storage rack is provided having vertically movable rack frames with shelves on opposite sides of a main frame whose length is substantially twice that of the rack frames and is mounted in a well below a working surface, the well depth being substantially equal to the length of the storage racks and drive means arranged to raise and lower the racks to provide a counterbalance effect.

This invention relates to reciprocable storage racks and particularly toa structure having vertically reciprocable shelves or the like which maybe moved to position a particular shelf at a desired working level.

There have been provided a variety of apparatus having movable shelvesor racks designed to make the shelves more accessible to a user.Generally such devices as have heretofore been proposed are based upon achain conveyor arrangement in which the shelves are pivotally mounted ona conveyor chain which rotates around top and bottom pulleys with theshelves arranged in a self-levelling arrangement. Such arrangementsrequire relatively complex self-levelling shelf arrangements as well asa relatively complex chain conveyor system. In addition, they requirecareful loading in order to prevent tipping and the like problems.Typical of such prior art devices are those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.682,517, 2,703,643, 2,829,780, 3,187,880, 3,426,912 and 3,851,764.Another and different movable showcase arrangement is illustrated inKilbourn U.S. Pat. No. 1,583,887. In this arrangement a showcase ismounted on a piston in a cylinder below floor level so that one-half ofthe showcase can go beneath the floor surface. A screen depending fromthe ceiling covers the other half of the showcase when raised and alsocovers the counterbalance cables which pass over a sheave on the ceilingand connect the top of the showcase to a counterbalance weight whichslides behind it. This is a very complex structure and yet permits onlya very limited movement of the showcase.

I have invented a reciprocable storage rack which is simple in structureand totally accessible. My structure eliminates the need forcounterbalance weights, conveyor chains and special suspensions.

I provide a vertically reciprocable storage rack assembly comprising avertical main frame, a pair of spaced substantially parallel tracksmounted adjacent each side edge of said frame, a vertical storage rackframe having a length substantially half the length of the main frame,spaced shelves on said storage rack frame, at least two pairs of guidewheels on said storage rack frame at least one pair adjacent the top andone pair adjacent the bottom, said guide wheels being mounted formovement between said pairs of tracks, drive means on the main framedrivingly engaging said storage rack frame for movement vertically onsaid tracks and a well means beneath the level of a working surface forsaid shelves, equal in depth to substantially the length of the storageframe, said main frame being mounted in said well whereby the top of thestorage frame is substantially level with said working surface in itslowermost position and the bottom of the storage frame is substantiallylevel with the work surface at its uppermost position. Preferably, Iprovide two storage rack frames, one on each side of the main frame,each having at least pairs of top and bottom guide wheels runningbetween pairs of substantially parallel rails on the side edges of theframe. The drive means is preferably an electric motor driving gears onopposite sides of the main frame in continuous driving engagement withtoothed rack means on the storage rack frame. The drive is preferablyarranged so that as one storage rack frame is raised, the other islowered, providing an automatic counterbalancing effect. In an alternateform the storage rack is mounted on side rails, one on each side runningbetween spaced opposed guide wheels on the main frame.

In the foregoing general description of this invention, I have set outcertain purposes, objects and advantages of my invention. Other objects,purposes and advantages of this invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the following description and the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a vertically reciprocable storagerack according to this invention, partly cut away;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the storage rack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the storagerack of FIG. 1, partly in section showing the drive arrangement;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a section of the main frameand rack frames showing the guide arrangement; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line V--V of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated a main elongate verticalframe 10 resting in the bottom of a well 11 below a floor or worksurface 12 and extending above floor 12 a distance substantially equalto the distance from the bottom of the well to the floor. Main frame 10is provided with a pair of spaced apart guide rails 13 and 14 at eachside edge. A storage rack frame 20 of generally rectangular shape havinga width generally the same as that of the main frame and a lengthgenerally equal to half of the height of the main frame. The storagerack frame 20 is provided with pairs of guide wheels 21 and 22 adjacentits top and bottom, all adapted to engage and run between parallel guiderails 13 and 14 at each side edge. Shelves 25 are cantilevered outwardlyfrom storage rack frame 20 at selected spaced intervals. A rack 30 isfixed on the back of storage rack frame 20 and is drivingly engaged bydrive motor 33 on the main frame 10. A like storage rack 20 is similarlymounted on the opposite side of main frame 10 and is driven by a drivegear 34 driven by gear 32. As a result, when the motor 33 drives gear 32in the counterclockwise direction, rack 20 on the left, viewing FIG. 1,is raised while rack 20 on the right is lowered and when gear 32 isdriven in the clockwise direction, the reverse occurs. This provides avery effective counterbalance effect without the need for added slidingweights, sheaves or cables.

As can be seen from the drawings, any shelf on either rack 20 can beselectively positioned with respect to the level of floor or worksurface 12 with ease and relatively little work because of thecounterbalancing effect.

In the foregoing specification I have set out certain preferredpractices and embodiments of this invention; however, it will beunderstood that this invention may be otherwise embodied within thescope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A vertically reciprocable storage rack assembly comprising avertical main frame, guide means adjacent each side edge of said frame,vertical storage rack frames, each having a length substantially halfthe length of the main frame on two opposite sides of said main frame,guide means on each of said storage rack frames on two opposite sides ofsaid main frame cooperating with the guide means on the main frame tosupport and maintain said guide in the vertical position throughout thelength of the main frame, spaced shelves on said storage rack frame,drive means on the main frame drivingly engaging said storage rack framefor movement vertically thereon and well means beneath the level of aselected working surface, said well means being equal in depth tosubstantially the length of the storage rack frame, said main framebeing mounted in said well whereby the top of the storage frame issubstantially at the level of the working surface in its lowermostposition and the bottom of the storage rack frame is substantially levelwith the working surface at its uppermost positions, said drive meansincludes a geared rack on each storage rack frame, each in drivingengagement with a drive gear on opposite sides of a main drive gearwhereby said racks are driven in opposite directions when the main drivegear rotates.
 2. A vertically reciprocable storage rack as claimed inclaims 3 wherein the guide means on the main frame are a pair of spacedguide rails at each side edge of the frame and the cooperating guidemeans on the storage rack frame are at least two pairs of guide wheels,one adjacent the top and one adjacent the bottom of said rack frame andengaged between said spaced parallel rails.
 3. A vertically reciprocablestorage rack as claimed in claims 3 wherein the guide means on the mainframe is a single guide rail adjacent each side edge of said main frameand the cooperating guide means on the storage rack frame is spacedpairs of wheels, one on each side of said rail.
 4. A verticallyreciprocable storage rack as claimed in claims 3 wherein the guide meanson the main frame are spaced guide wheels engaging on opposite sides ofa rail on each side of the storage rack frame forming the cooperatingguide means thereon.